the pass, but had made a considerable
detour to the eastward. The object of this was now apparent. Senzanga's
suggestion was to the effect that they should avoid the pass, striking
boldly through the mountains to the south-west, trusting to being able
to force their way through the forest on the coast side of the range.
They could then make direct for some point on the Limpopo, higher up
than where they had crossed. By going straight, they could reach the
river by a much shorter journey than the previous one. Senzanga's plan
was adopted, so after a cheerless rest of a few hours they started,
working slowly up a long spur to the westward of the high peak flanking
the saddle on the right-hand side.

As a matter of fact, the Zulus, by their extraordinarily rapid march,
had reached the saddle exactly twenty-four hours before their arrival
was thought possible by the Makalakas. The fact that the Zulus had
begun to retreat had been signaled back by means of fires along the
mountain tops, but they were not expected to be seen for another two
days. When the Balotsi next day reached the saddle, expecting to find
that the Zulus had been already slaughtered, they found, to their
astonishment, that nothing had been seen of the fugitives. But the
mystery was soon solved--the trail was found leading up the spur, and
the intention of the Zulus became immediately clear to the Makalaka
Chief, It was now his turn to be seriously alarmed, for if these men
should succeed in reaching Zululand, an impi of Tshaka's terrible
destroyers would soon be on its way to wreak vengeance. Therefore, at
any cost, the fugitives must be intercepted and destroyed to a man. So
the Makalakas hastened down the pass, after instructing the Balotsi to
keep on the trail of the Zulus over the mountains, harass their rear,
and notify their whereabouts by lighting fires on the nearest hills
surrounding them every night. But this was a service for which the
Balotsi had no stomach. They were a long way from home, and were almost
without food; they had tasted of the Zulu spear, and it was bitter. So
after making a pretence of obeying, they turned round and hurried
homeward as fast as they could.

Kondwana and his force found the mountain range to be less formidable
than they had anticipated, but nevertheless their sufferings were
awful. Food, they now had none, and hunger gnawed at them with
incessant and increasing violence. Their feet were so sore that every
step o